By Zech Sindt On November 19, 2024, Mindy Jo Jones was found guilty of first-degree arson and animal abuse in the Allamakee County courtroom. This verdict completes another chapter in a long and troubling saga that has spanned over two decades, leaving a trail of victims and destruction in its wake. Jones has used the names Mindy Bear, Mindy Jacobsen, and Mindy Riley in … [Read more...]

By Zech Sindt On November 7, 2024, a jury in Mankato, Minn., found Adam Fravel, 30, guilty on four counts of murder. This marked the culmination of a long and arduous journey for justice in the case of Madeline Kingsbury, a 26-year-old mother whose life was tragically cut short on March 31, 2023, when she vanished from her Winona, Minn., home. Fravel is scheduled to be … [Read more...]

At their November 12 meeting, the Houston City Council decided to retain Steve Skifton for two more years as fire chief. Skifton had previously notified the council he wished to retire. The position was posted, and one person applied. At the interview, the applicant honestly shared that he had only applied to provide an option, but this had not been part of his plan for himself … [Read more...]

Brownsville, Minn., Mayor Jean Meyer opened the public hearing at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6 prior to the regular meeting of the city council. The purpose of the public hearing was to hear comments from the public regarding subdividing parcel R20.0112.000 into two separate nonconforming lots. Meyer emphasized that the resolution was passed at the October council … [Read more...]

Since the age of 6, Josef Fahrenholtz has harbored a deep-seated aspiration to pursue a basketball career. This aspiration materialized into reality in April 2024, as he inked a contract with an agency in Lithuania. This pivotal move paved the way for him to join the Nidaros Jets, a professional basketball team based in Trondheim, Norway. Josef’s upbringing was rooted in the … [Read more...]

The Wolf’s Den in Ostrander held a Hurricane Helene Relief Drive on October 13. Everything gathered at the relief drive was taken to Parrotsville, Tenn., near the North Carolina border, to help victims of Hurricane Helene. The Wolf’s Den Owner, Lynne Dempewolf, says she felt the need to do the relief drive after watching the news and seeing some posts on social media about … [Read more...]

The spotlight was on La Crosse, Wis., on Thursday, October 17, as Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. After the rally, two ladies in their late 20s/early 30s who work at the University eagerly shared their opinion about Harris’s presentation. Sarah said, “I feel very positive. I was very optimistic for our country.” Her colleague … [Read more...]

The quiet little hamlet of Bratsberg five miles south of Rushford boasts a few houses and a couple old store fronts, but this time of the year there’s an added attraction. Mitch Paulson, who lives at the intersection of Highways 43 and 10, loves to make people  smile. For the last 10 years or so Mitch has done this by creating his own Halloween display using a multitude of … [Read more...]